NEB&W Guide to Lake George, NY

Last Update: 2009-11-12

Layout Photo Gallery Table of Contents

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Overview

• Topographic maps:
  • [1897 map, back when Lake George Village was called Caldwell.]
  • [1955 map, in particular showing the balloon track.]

• Valuation map of the dock and depot area.
  • [Valuation map.]

• An aerial view c. 1950 shows the relation of the Fort William Henry Hotel and Pergola to the depot and boat dock. (Note the turntable in the area later occupied by Gaslight Village.)
  • [Prototype photo.]

First Depot

• The first station, built in 1882, in a Swiss-chalet type of Queen Anne. It was replaced in 1909.
  • [Prototype view.]
  • [Distant view.]
  • [Another view. (What drugs were those architects on?!)]

Second Depot

• The station was built in 1909 in the Spanish Colonial style, one of the styles then in vogue, even though Lake George is a far way from California. (It also combined features of the Queen Anne, including the eyebrow window.) In each of the four corners of the tower was a larger-than-life statue representing the four groups associated with the region's history (Indian, French explorer, Englishman, and American, I think).
  • [Prototype photo from the NEB&W D&H Collection. Note the boat pier beyond.]
  • [A similar postcard view.]
  • [C. WWI view from our NEB&W D&H Collection.]
  • [A similar postcard view from the hill.]
  • [A view from the lake.]
  • [As the depot looked in the 1980's.]
  • [Close-up of the top of the tower c. 2000.]
  • [Close-up c. 2000.]
  • [Close-up c. 2000.]
  • [Side view with the fort in the background c. 2000. (Note the eyebrow window.)]
  • [Closer view c. 2000.]
  • [Plans.]

• A few years after the new depot was built, they built a new canopy out to the dock.
  • [D&H photo c. 1914.]
  • [D&H photo c. 1914.]
  • [D&H photo c. 1914.]
  • [D&H photo c. 1914.]

First Fort William Hotel

• The original Fort William Henry Hotel was built c. 1880's, but burned in 1911.
  • [Original hotel c. 1906.]
  • [Original hotel from a distance.]
  • [Another view.]
  • [Another view.]
  • [The giant porch.]

Second Fort William Hotel

The hotel was rebuilt, in the prevailing English Colonial style. Massive hotels like this were common, generally located a short walk from the train station, as mass transportation of the period forced mass vacationing.
• [Broadside view c. WWI of the newer hotel, from the NEB&W D&H collection.]
• [Three-quarter view.]
• [Another colored postcard version.]
• [From the other end.]
• [In post-steam days, the main building was torn down to become the Fort William Henry Motel.]
• To the side of the hotel was a fancy house. I'm not sure if this was the servants headquarters or exactly what.
  • [Photo c. 1931, from the NEB&W D&H Collection.]
  • [Close-up.]

Pergola

• At the base of the hotel was a "Pergola" (combination boat house, changing rooms, cafe, and small shops) where hotel guests could still wander around in their bathing suits.
  • [Original road overpass.]
  • [Architect's rendition.]
  • [Another architect's rendition (or maybe the same one, just bigger).]
  • [Architect's drawing of the staircase.]
  • [Architect's drawing of the Pergola, itself.]
  • [Valuation map.]
  • [Postcard view.]
  • [Postcard view with a steam launch backing up.]
  • [Aerial photo, c. 1950.]
  • [Aerial postcard view.]
  • [Prototype view, from the NEB&W D&H Collection.]
  • [A postcard view.]
  • [Postcard view showing a seaplane. (So I guess the Pergola also functioned like an airport!)]
  • [More seaplanes.]
  • [Postcard close-up view.]
  • [Postcard view from the adjacent shore.]
  • [Postcard view of the road side. (I think the D&H intended to run their trolley line to the depot along this road, which is why they built the bridge.)]
  • [View from the road overpass toward the depot.]

• The grounds of the hotel were well maintained.
  • [Postcard view looking out toward the lake, with the roof of the Pergola just visible.]
  • [Another postcard view.]

• This photo is taken directly from Allen Keller's Great Model Railroads video, Vol. 25.

Lake George Steamboat Company

• The D&H owned the Lake George Steamboat Co. and built a pier to provide direct connection between rail and boat.
  • [Postcard view of the pier area.]
  • [Another postcard view.]
  • [A steamboat and steam launch at the docks. (Another steamboat is on the other side of the dock canopy.)]
  • [Postcard view of a pair of steam launches with the pergola in the distance.]
  • [A view from the opposite side. There was one track that swung out onto the pier.]
  • [An engine out on the dock with the Sagamore behind.]
  • [Postcard view of the Sagamore.]
  • [Postcard view of the Sagamore from the front.]
  • [Postcard view of the Horicon, the largest ship on Lake George. (At least the largest steamboat.)]
  • [Another view of the Horicon.]
  • [Postcard view of the Horicon, I think on the end of the D&H pier.]
  • [Horicon with the old station, pre-1911.]
  • [Postcard view of the modern-looking steel Ticonderoga.]

Lake Champlain Steamboat Company

• The D&H also owned the Champlain Transportation Co., and there was a Ticonderoga on both lakes. The one on Lake Champlain ran as late as 1953, and was rescued from destruction when it moved to the Shelburne Museum, where it still can be seen today.
  • [Postcard view.]
  • [Another postcard view.]
  • [Postcard view of the Ti at the Burlington dock.]
  • [Prototype photo from Jim Shaughnessy's The Rutland Road showing the ship being moved inland.]

Fort William Henry

• In the 1950's, the prototype Fort William Henry was reconstructed and opened as a tourist attraction.
  • [Newly reconstructed c. mid-1950's.]
  • [Aerial view post 1958. The star shape is key to how it was intended to work in warfare.]
  • [Aerial view from the other direction c. 1960. (The pergola has been torn down.)]
  • [A contemporary panoramic prototype view showing the station, restored fort, and the site of the "pergola". (The hotel in post-steam days became the Fort William Henry Motel, but sometime around 2000, they built a new hotel which was purposely designed to mimic the old hotel.)]
  • [Blueprints. (Poor copy photo using a hand-held camera.)]
  • [Blueprints. (Poor copy photo using a hand-held camera.)]
  • [Detail view c. 1990.]
  • [Detail view c. 1990.]
  • [Detail view c. 1990.]
  • [Detail view c. 1990.]
  • [Detail view c. 1990.]

• The fort was recreated by Paul Stoving on the layout, using bamboo skewers.
  • [Model view.]
  • [Another model view.]

Freight House

• Since the D&H terminated in Lake George, they had a large circle, called "the balloon track" in order to turn trains quickly. Today this area is the site of a miniature golf course and Gas Light Village. The freight house (and other industries) was in the area of the balloon track. The site of the fort is in the background. The model was scratchbuilt by Anthony Prattico.
  • [Sanborn map.]
  • [Aerial view c. 1950.]
  • [Prototype photo, c. 1931.]
  • [Model photo, trackside.]
  • [Model photo, end view.]
  • [Model photo, other side.]

Marine Track

• The marine track was used to unload boats brought in by box car or flat.
  • [Construction c. 1909.]
  • [Prototype photo from the NEB&W D&H Collection, c. 1930.]
  • [From the other end, 1914.]
  • [Prototype view. The box car in the photo has an end door. Photo from the Jim Shaughnessy Collection.]
  • [C. 1950 courtesy of the Chapman Museum of the Glens Falls/Queensbury Historical Association.]

Million Dollar Beach

• Million Dollar Beach was opened c. 1953 just south of the depot. It was named for staggering (at the time) cost of construction, to bring in the sand.
  • [Aerial postcard view.]
  • [Postcard view of the beach, with the depot (with the bright red roof) and pergola just visible in the distance.]
  • [Postcard view. Note the brightly colored umbrellas.]
  • [Postcard view. Note the lifeguard stand.]
  • [Postcard view c. 1952.]
  • [Postcard view c. 1970's.]
  • [Model view.]
  • [Another model view.]
  • [Another model view. Photo taken by Lou Sassi.]
  • [Another model view. Photo taken by Lou Sassi.]

Shelburne, VT Creamery

• We beefed up the rail traffic on our model by adding a creamery modeled after the one at Shelburne, VT on the Rutland. Note the half-timbering of the upper floor to give an Early English flair. (The building still stands, but today is doctor's office, stripped of all the trim.)
  • [C. '31 photo.]
  • [C. WWII photo, courtesy of Bob Nimke's The Rutland, 60 Years of Trying, Vol. V, No. 1.]
  • [Rutland sidetrack diagram.]
  • [Model scratchbuilt by Anthony Prattico and photographed by James Lauser.]
  • [Another model photo.]
  • [And another model photo.]
  • [And another.]

See our Layout Guide for Lake George.

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